Thursday, October 4, 2007

Will you help us in the final days of our campaign? Sign the petition today!

We’ve only got six days left until we deliver the UCC’s “100,000 for Peace” petitions to Washington, D.C. But there’s just one Sunday remaining, so we’ve got work to do!

Just so you know our schedule:

The Rev. Linda Jaramillo, executive minister for Justice and Witness Ministries, and I will be delivering the UCC’s Pastoral Letter on the Iraq War and the endorsing signatures we’ve gathered – 35,940 as of today – to the leadership offices of the U.S. House and Senate at approximately 10 a.m. (ET) on Wednesday, Oct. 10. We have confirmed this meeting and pray it will be productive.

Although we have requested a similar meeting with Administration officials, we have not yet received a favorable response. However, we will still attempt to deliver the Pastoral Letter and copies of the petitions to the White House at 12:30 p.m. (ET). If you live in the D.C. area, we welcome you to join us at the guard station near Lafayette Park.

We ask for your help this Sunday:

1. Will you help with one big, final push to gather petition signatures? If you haven’t yet, please sign the petition. And if you haven’t yet invited others to participate, please tell your friends now.
   
   
2. If you still want to circulate petitions on Sunday, there’s still time! Download the printable petition. Then, on Monday, fax your signed petitions to 216-736-3703.
   
   
3. Please tell others about our plans for Wednesday. We ask that you make a special invitation for everyone to join in prayerful solidarity at 12:30 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, when we’ll be delivering the Pastoral Letter and petitions at the White House. We also ask that you schedule in-district meetings this week at the local offices of your U.S. Representatives and Senators, in order to amplify our message.
   
   
4. Tomorrow, via email, Linda and I will share with you a reflection on the importance of this peace campaign and its tie to World Communion Sunday. We ask that you will receive and reflect on the letter, then share all or portions of it with members of your church on Sunday. Look for our World Communion Sunday letter at ucc.org or in your inbox by 10 a.m. (ET) on Friday.
   
   
5. Many churches are scheduled to receive the Neighbors in Need special mission offering this Sunday. What a wonderful way to make connections between the UCC’s peace with justice mission and the compassion-related ministries this offering supports! Please give generously.

Thanks for all you have done and continue to do in support of “100,000 for Peace.”

Sincerely,

The Rev. John H. Thomas
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ

P.S. Again, remember to look for our special letter in your inbox tomorrow.

See also John's 10/3 letter, One week from today: "One week from today, on the
morning of October 10, I will be visiting the leadership offices of the U.S. House
and Senate to share with them the UCC’s Pastoral Letter on the Iraq War, along
with the thousands of petitions we’ve gathered...." (continued)

 See also John's 10/9 letter, Let me begin with exciting news: "Let me begin with exciting news. Yesterday alone, we added more than 10,000 signatures in support of the UCC’s Pastoral Letter on the Iraq War. That brings the total number to nearly 52,000! I’m told the fax machine in Justice and Witness Ministries ran non-stop all day long...." (continued)